Journal of Agriculture
and Environmental Sciences

Multiyear (2010 – 2014) Assessment of Bollgard II® Efficacy in Commercial Small Scale Farmer Fields in Burkina Faso
Omer Sacamba Aimé Héma, Issoufou Ouédraogo, Karim Traoré, Ivo Brandt, Douglas Sumerford

Abstract
Cotton is the main cash crop in Burkina Faso and more than three millions people are living on this crop. Unfortunately, many insect pests’ damages cause low yield and incomes for farmers. Because of chemical overuse, pests have developed resistance to pyrethroids. In the aim to find a solution to insect pests’ damages, Bollgard II® was tested from 2003-2008 and commercially released in 2009. Bollgard II® efficacy on leaf-worms and bollworms was monitored in farmers’ fields at 8 locations from 2010 to 2014 in the three major cotton production zones of Burkina Faso. The results showed that total number of worms, leaf-worms and bollworms were respectively 4.5, 3.0, and 6.7 times higher in conventional cotton sprayed six times compared to twice sprayed Bollgard II®. The results showed also 23.9% (272.2 kg ha-1) yield increase with Bollgard II®. No indications on Bollgard II® efficacy reduction during the commercial period of 2010 to 2014 were found. Ensuring the implementation of a structured refuge will best maintain Bollgard II® long-term economic value to cotton growers in Burkina Faso.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v6n2a14